I’ve been collecting books on The Beatles since my teens, though I’ll admit that my crawling of Beatles-related volumes has dwindled in the last ten years or so. Although I still love his music and continue to admire Paul McCartney’s endless energy and enthusiasm, there are a few other priorities in life for me now, like my wife and daughter and earning enough money so we can all eat one once in a while.

However, I find it almost therapeutic to revisit some of those Beatles books I grew up poring over. Some were simply exercises in cashing in on the most profitable name in rock ‘n roll, but others went much further. I’d like to recommend five from my collection that I can safely rank among my favorites of all the Beatles books I own.

� Revolution In The Head – author Ian McDonald; the book was first published in 1994, with revisions in 1997 and 2005 (McDonald died in 2003). A song-by-song analysis of the Beatles’ work, their modus operandi and the dynamics of the Liverpool group, all set against the backdrop of 1960s political and social upheaval. An absolute masterpiece and possibly the best book on The Beatles.

� Pocket Writer – author Mark Shipper; first published in 1978. Out of print for years, but a hilarious speech that defies the clamor for a Beatles reunion so prevalent during the ’70s, arguing that their time had passed and our perfect illusions of the band could be shattered without possibility of repair if they actually got back together.

� The Beatles: An Illustrated Record – authors Roy Carr and Tony Tyler; a large paperback with semi-serious reviews of every single and album release with a complementary timeline of Beatles-related news and activities. A favourite, despite some of the reviews struggling to stand the test of time.

� The Beatles Chronicle – author Mark Lewisohn; Stunning in its painstaking detail, it offers an amazing glimpse into how hard the Beatles worked, especially in their touring days of 1961-1966. A valuable document that should provide cultural scholars with much to explore for years to come.

� The Beatles Anthology – authors of the remaining three members; the final story, from the mouths of the surviving participants, largely a verbatim reproduction of the landmark UK TV series. He’s bravely open and honest in his recollections of him, though it would have been really great if John had been around to make his own contemporary contributions. We can only speculate how that would have changed the final presentation.